Lausanne, Switzerland, July 24, 2014 – Defending
champions Brazil aim for back-to-back championship triumphs, while China and
Japan maintain their perfect participation records in the 22nd edition of the
FIVB World Grand Prix.Brazil can defend their title for the
fourth time in World Grand Prix history after achieving this feat in 2005,
2006 and 2009. Brazil are the most successful team in the World Grand Prix with
nine titles and have been finalists for the last six
seasons.Asian powerhouses China and Japan are the
only two teams who have participated in every edition of the World Grand Prix.
Both teams played in the Final Round last year, when China were
runners-up and Japan took sixth place overall. Brazil and USA have only missed out
on one season of the premier annual women’s competition.In the history of the World Grand Prix,
only six teams – Brazil, USA, Russia, Cuba, China and the Netherlands - have
won the World Grand Prix crown. Brazil and USA have been the most dominant
teams in the last 10 editions, winning six and three titles respectively. The
Netherlands are the only other country to have won during this period.The number of teams participating in the 2014 World Grand Prix has been increased
by ten, going from the 18-team format used in 2013 to a 28-team format this year. Five teams will join the competition for the first time: Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Kenya and
Mexico. With these five debutants, a total of 30 teams have now taken part in
the World Grand Prix. This year, Kenya will be the only team representing the
African region and will be the second African team ever to participate in the World
Grand Prix after Algeria last year.Key Points

· The World Grand Prix Intercontinental
Round is split into three groups.

· Debutants Belgium recorded
their best season in 2013 when they won bronze at the European Championship
defeating Serbia, and silver in the European Volleyball League behind Germany.

· Canada will be playing the
World Grand Prix for the second time since 2003.

· Peru will be appearing in the
World Grand Prix for the third time and have recorded only one victory so far.

· Poland will make their 11th consecutive
appearance in the World Grand Prix.

· Argentina have played 27
matches in the World Grand Prix and have won four times – all were five-set
victories against the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Germany and Kazakhstan.

· Cuba are the most experienced
in their group stage with eight medals – two gold, four silver, two bronze.

· With Cuba, the Netherlands
are the only other gold medal winners in their World Grand Prix group; they have
won three of their last four matches in the World Grand Prix, their only loss
in this streak was against defending champions Brazil.

· Puerto Rico have played 36
matches in the World Grand Prix, with five victories.